Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with the Football Association on football governance since July 2011; and if he will make a statement.

I meet regularly with a wide range of football organisations including the Football Association to discuss a range of issues, including their governance of the sport. DCMS Ministers’ external meetings are published quarterly on the Departmental website:

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I continue to press for improvements in football governance; they have made welcome progress, but I expect them to maintain this momentum. If football fails to demonstrate that they can reform their own governance of the game, I will not hesitate to use all the powers at our disposal, including legislation if necessary, to support our national game.